Safeback SBX Avalanche Rescue System | £549
In many avalanche burials, it’s the lack of air under the snow which kills the victim. The Safeback SBX system offers a solution of sorts, giving you up to 90 minutes of breathable air by turning your back-pack into an air pump. Pull the lever and the battery-powered motor extracts oxygen from the surrounding snow and pumps it up to the area around your face. It’s a product you’ll never want to use, but it provides a welcome extra level of protection.
Split Skis Packable Skis | £TBC
Skis are cumbersome to carry and difficult to transport, so it’s not surprising designers have tried various ‘fixes’. The most notable recent attempt was Elan’s Voyager skis, which fold in half. Split Skis have taken a different approach, using a patented snap together system. Split the skis, and they’ll fit into a standard airline hold bag. On snow, the snap system means they have the same flex pattern as standard skis, and reportedly feel the same.
Eddie Bauer BC Flyline Sit Ski Outerwear | £440
Designed in conjunction with Trevor Kennison, one of the most influential sit ski athletes, the BC Flyline jacket and pants (£360) maximise sit ski comfort. There are specially-made features like the seams positioned to eliminate chafing in the seated position, and extra insulation across the bum and hips, The three-way front zipper gives easy access to the lower part of the bib, and the knees are designed to match the shape of the sit ski bucket.
Rab Mythic G Down Jacket | £450
Rab have gone all out in the pursuit of ultimate lightness in the Mythic G down jacket. Using 1000 fill-power down as the insulation material and a titanium lining to improve heat retention, this jacket keeps you insanely warm, despite weighing just 277g. The body-mapped shape further optimises warmth, and there are ripstop fabrics on the face and inner, to prevent it from tearing too easily—a common problem with ultra-lightweight kit.
Cardo Packtalk Outdoor Comms System | £200
Designed specifically for outdoor activities this hands-free comms system allows you to stay in touch with your ski buddies while you are on the slopes. You can create an intercom network within seconds, allowing seamless communication without the need for network coverage or WiFi. The whole system is IP67 waterproof, and clips easily into any ski helmet on the market.
Stoko K1 Knee Brace Baselayer | £320
Dodgy knees are annoying full stop, but even more annoying if you have to fit a knee brace on over your baselayer. These new leggings from Stoko solve the issue with a built-in medical-grade knee support. Not only does it offer targeted compression and thermal fabric but there are also 90 feet of high-strength cables hidden inside. Adjustable control via two dials on the waist-band enables you to tweak support in each leg on the fly.
